TONYWARDSTUDIO.COM

Sex And Art Special Edition: October 2010

…….TW will be posting his recent work for this special anniversary issue coming soon!

To Each His Own Moon (1999) Oil Pastel On Canson Paper

Artist’s Statement: Posted On September 2, 2010

……….I approach the canvas unconvinced of any specific idea or form, confident that with innocence and passion a world will be conjured. Again and again, eggs become tombstones, helicopters turn into eyes….anything is possible. At any time, figures are born and die and are reborn.

Go Figure (2005) Oil Pastel And Mixed Media On Paper And Wood

Sunsets fade, moons come round. Schools of fish, oblivious to the affairs of man, emerge and disappear: bottle-blonde men screwing goats next to their child bride, people fighting for their lives in the ring that becomes a sea, people floating dreamlike in domestic scenes. Naked annunciations, closeted crucifixions.

Fighter Boy (2004) Enamel On Canvas

Life was isolated from the herd. At an inverse proportion I fell in love with my own lovely land. The world of courtroom art was left behind with its momentary concerns in grim games. I embarked on a pictorial exploration of the subconscious. How could it be achieved, that within a picture’s four walls there could be change, memory, sexuality.

Foursome With Moet (2006) Enamel On Canvas

I found the answer in a certain directed hedonism…that is, through dance and song, movement and smoke.

Mala Dik Tus (2005 Enamel On Canvas

And there remained life sifting through me.

Midnite Drive (2007-2008) Media on Board

To learn more about Rebekah Boyer’s work, log on to www.RebekahBoyerArt.com.

Rachel

Posted on August 29, 2010

Dirty Dry and Dull

I wanted to create a study of faces and texture. I covered my models in powder to simplify their features as well as make some stand out, such as the shape of their face. The idea was mostly inspired from a photograph I had seen of a man covered in powder; however, it had more of a tribal reference, which I wasn’t interested in recreating.

Yuffie

I was looking to make them look as if they were sculpted heads. The stark expression helps add to this idea. The title of the series encouraged how I would approached my idea but has very little to do with the project itself.

Dessa

Ultimately, I was hoping to make something strange and hard to look at but beautiful at the same time by showing how unique the face is.

Christina

To learn more about Victor Rodriguez Jr’s work, log on to www.studio206id.com.

Hat On Eiffel Tower

Posted on August 25, 2010

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……….The wide variety of photographs selected by TW for this post reflect how I generally produce my work; I carry a camera at all times, and document the people, places and things that tickle my brain aesthetically and emotionally.

Gallery Opening

I was born in Louisville, Kentucky. My parents died (at different times) when I was a small child. I then moved in with relatives in Lancaster, Pa. and attended a small private school in Lancaster. After that, several “prodigal son” episodes were intermingled with stints at a few different universities, the last being Temple, where I was a French major.

Tugboat On Delaware River

Some people have said my work looks a little like Robert Frank, but mine is more mood-driven and autobiographical/personal rather than documentary, particularly in the last few years.

Bird Silhouette

I guess the photographer who influenced me the most was Larry Clark, who inspired me because he made a career of taking pictures about his life and of his drug-addicted friends, rather than specifically going out on a photographic mission for the most part anyway.

Marijuana Necklace

I shoot mostly with Leica and Nikon 35mm film cameras. I feel more connected to their primitive analog functionality, and also feel reassured by the tried and true archival durability of the black and white film.

Trailer

On a practical level, I’ve also re-discovered shots I took when I was much younger that I didn’t appreciate at the time; had I been shooting digital back then, those images would have undoubtedly been deleted.

Grim Reaper

That said, I also have several digital cameras, which of course are necessary for any kind of paid work, as well as any other project where instant results or large quantities of material are needed.

$$ Glasses

Woman With Magenta Hat

Posted on August 21, 2010

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My adventure into photography dates back to 2005 while attending Burlington County College in New Jersey. It’s safe to say that it wouldn’t have happened if the question were never asked, “Do you want to learn how to take better pictures?” I’ve always enjoyed taking pictures as a hobby, but I never imagined that it would end up being something I would want to make a career out of.

Headdress

At first, I used photography to enhance my graphic design work. However, the more I learned about photography, the more I wanted to be a photographer instead of a graphic designer.

Man-Woman And Vintage Chevy

Street Stroll

My early interests were nothing like they are today. I wanted to photograph things that didn’t move, but I was never opposed to trying something new. I guess it was mostly because I would see a photograph and ask myself, “How did they do that?” Spending countless hours in the studio or darkroom trying to figure out how a particular photograph was made, contributes to my work ethic today. I was always experimenting and luckily I have a lot of friends to pose for me, no matter how crazy or risqué the idea. The body, fashion, portraits, sex… all of these things grasped my interest.

In 2007, I transferred to the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. I learned so much more about photography and many different photographers, a lot of which had a major impact on how I look at photography. Among some of my favorite photographers are, Helmut Newton, Richard Avedon, Irving Penn, Robert Mapplethorpe, Tony Ward, Annie Leibovitz, Lois Greenfield, James Nachtwey, and Philip Warner. I feel each of them has inspired me and my work, which helped me push myself to learn more and take full advantage of my time at the university.

Now, a recent graduate, I hope to continue to make a career as a professional photographer. I would love nothing more than traveling the world and getting hired to do shoots for Vogue and other well-respected magazines, fashion designers, advertisers and other companies.

Profile

I would also like to show and sell my work in galleries around the world. Besides desiring of becoming a well-known photographer, I also would love to teach photography. I think that by helping to educate young photographers keep’s the importance of photography alive and an inspiration to others.

Victor Rordriguez Jr.

To learn more about Victor Rodriguez art work, log on to www.studio206id.com.

Press Image

TW:
1. Your graphic style is imbued with a very sophisticated use of shape and color that reminds me of graphic imagery of my childhood during the 50’s and 60’s. Is there a correlation with your current work and imagery you’ve seen from past era’s in the graphic design pantheon?
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CK: If my style reminds people of the 50’s and 60’s, it’s completely by chance. I’m self taught and self developed, mainly, and actually consciously stayed away from influence as a young artist. I believe this helped give me the unique perspective and reckless abandon that I have today. I am inspired of all of life and history, though, and take from it little pieces of what I find interesting or beautiful, to explore and integrate into my style or as content. All of the inspiration an artist needs is alive in this world, and an artist’s unique perspective should be the only direction they need (vs prompts by eras or other artists), to explore and develop their unique voice and craft.

Woman With Cigarette And Martini

TW:
2. Where would you say the greatest influence’s lie that created your amazing sense of color and the use of the simple line?

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CK: As a child, and for fun, I would write essays over my observations of people, society, their constructs, and I would then continue to consolidate those essays into 1-3 sentence essential summaries or “truths.” I would be very happy as a professional interior space organizer. I was a junior particle/quantum physicist in my youth.
I’ve always been inspired by beauty of simplicity, and extremely enjoy the puzzle and process of taking the amazing chaos and wealth of information we find in life, to organize it in the most aesthetically attractive, simplified, but emotional way I can. This way of processing information is the force behind my line illustration and photography. My involvement in other styles of illustration, graphic design, 3D modeling, or video, (etc …) is my exploration of a never-ending well of inspiration. I assume that someday all of my interests will merge together into something interesting. I’m looking forward to what that language looks like.

Resting

TW:
3. How do you best apply your stylistic approach? Is it free work, or are your illustration’s usually destined for a particular customer in the consumer world?

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CK: Though I do some illustration for clientele, it’s mostly free work in development, and eventually I intend to publish with magazines and events around the world. Currently my paid work covers furniture design, print, video editing and motion graphic compositing.

Edie

TW:
4. Did your parent’s influence the making of your art from childhood?

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CK: No

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TW:
5. Who in the arts is your hero?

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CK: Hero is such a heavy word. My dictionary defines it as, ” [someone] who is admired or idealized for courage, outstanding achievements, or noble qualities.” I can’t say that I idealize any artist, but there are artists who inspire me. Some that come to mind include Picasso, Warhol, Bresson, Kandinsky, Shag, the amazing cinematographers of the world, and the musicians that give life an accessible soundtrack inspiring our deepest emotions.

Impact On My Life

Posted By Yoko Grosshans on August 18th, 2010

………. My father has always had quite an impact on my life. I never really ” knew” him….he had a massive stroke by the time I was 5 years old….he was only 52 years old at the time. However, as he slowly made somewhat of a recovery, he and I created a strong bond. Maybe not as strong as my mother and I, but in a different way….he was the reason I became obsessed with photography, video, working in a darkroom, and creating mosaics. He relies on me, especially since my mom’s passing a year ago on July 4th, 2009. I took off 7 years of work, life and living independently to care for both of my parents’ with not a single year of regret.

No Regrets

Unfortunately, I cannot care for dad anymore considering he’s wheelchair bound and paralyzed on his right side with speech impairment and he just turned 87 the end of July, 2010. Dad was and still is a genius and I wish I would have more memories of those brief 5 years of the renaissance man I was told he was.

Lucky for me, he is a typical German who chronicled EVERYTHING; over 6 dozen photo albums, slides, reel to reel audio and video (more than I can count), including dvd and vhs memories….he also wrote over 5000 pages of memoirs of his life after teaching himself to relearn to write with his left hand.

The Cat And The Owl

…..In recent month’s a friend suggested I contact an elder agency that assesses what is best for my father and myself, and we decided it was best that dad reside in a very high standard nursing facility.

Tree Of Life

The project coordinator definitely keeps the “patient’s” occupied…his latest project was with a group of other interested artists to work on several mosaic murals that are now displayed in the serenity of the outdoor plaza.

Swan In Stream

I am so impressed with my dad’s still well maintained capabilities. I could do nothing but beam at how proud dad was to show me his work…He still never ceases to amaze me….I love you Dad!

The Mosaic Project

Photographs by Yoko Grosshans